System of electric traction.



Patanted Sept. 5, I899.

E. VEDOVELL'I. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

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SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

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No. 632,543, Patented Sept. 5, 1899.

E. VEDOVELLI. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

E. VEDOVELLI.

SYSTEM OF'ELEGTRIC TRACTION.

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, 1899.

E. VEDUVELLI. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC; TRACTION.

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No. 632,543. Patented Supt. 5, I899.

' E. VEDOVEL'LI.

SYSTEM" OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

(Application fllad MAY 29, 1897.)

No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, I899. E. VEDDVELLI.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

' (Application filed May 29, 1897.) 710 Model.) l7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

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Paten ted Sept. 5, I899.

E. VEDOVELLI. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, 1899.

E.VEDOVELLL SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTEON.

(Application filed May 29, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, I899. E. VEDOVELLI.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION;

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, I899. E. VEDUVELLI.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

(Application filed In 29, 1897.) (No Model.) l7 Shaets-Sheet 12.

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No. 632,543. Pat ented Sept. 5, I899. E. VEDOVELLI.

svsma or ELECTRIC TRACTION.

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INVENTOI? My ATTORNEYS No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

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SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TBACTlON.

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

E. VEDOVELLI.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

(Application filed my 29, 1897.)

I7 Sheets-Sheet 15.

(No Model.)

INVE/VTUR lauwul%wllb BY ATTUR YJ.

Patented Sept, 5, I899.

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E. VEDOVELLI.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.

(Application filed May 29, 1897.)

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No. 632,543. Patented Sept..5, I899.

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UNITED STATES. PATENT OrFIcE.

EDOUARD VEDOVELLI, or PAnIs, cannon...

SYSTEM OFELECTRIC TRACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 632,543, datedSeptember 1899.

1 Application filed May 29,1897. Serial N0.688.692. (No model.)

To all w/mm, H; may concern:

Be it known that I, EDOUARD VEDovELLI, a citizen of France, residing atParis, France,

have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Electric Tractionand in Apparatus Employed Therein, (for which I have received LettersPatent in France, No. 259,256, dated August 28, 1896,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved system ofelectric tractionand to apparatus employed therein. Let it first be assumed that it isapplied to an underground line.

In the system according to the present in vention metal blocks arearranged between the rails at regular intervals, and the car is providedwith a special contact, the length of which is a little greater thanthat between two successive blocks. The rails are connected to eachotherand then to one pole of a dynamo, the other pole of which issuccessivelyconnected with each of the blocks when the car passes overthem. The result of this arrangement is that the current enters a blockonly when it is covered by the car. In this system each block suppliescurrent to itself, and as one block after the other comes into circuitit cuts off the current from the preceding one.

The invention will be better understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which are represented, by way of example, thevarious parts of the system of electric traction according to thepresent invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing my system in its preferred form.Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing only the rails, line-wire, blocks,and connecting-wires. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modification ofthe preferred form of my invention. Fig. 4 shows a form of automaticcut-out with which the switch of each contact is provided. Fig. 5 showsa modified form of automatic cut-out.

Fig. 6 shows the switch provided with a cona resistance applied to theswitch in such manner as that high-tension currents may be merge intoone.

properly employed. Fig. 9 shows both a condenser and a resistanceapplied to the switch. Fig. 10 shows the inclusion with the switch ofmeans for breaking the contact very slowly. Fig. 11 shows the systemapplied to parallel .lines in which it is necessary, as in'narrowplaces, that thecars pass over the same line. Fig. 12 is a diagramshowing a modification of the latter. Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammaticviews showing the system applied to lines which branch off into two.Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the system appliedito two lines which IFig. 16 is a plan view showing the manner in which the accidentalconnection of one of the blocks with the source of electricity isprevented. Fig. 17 is a diagram matic View showing modifications bywhich the system is adapted to overhead lines.

Fig. 18 illustrates details of two adjacent insulated portions of thewire in an overhead line. Fig. 19 is a modification of the latter. Fig.20 is a further modification adapted for a trolley passing in bothdirections. Figs. 21 and 22 are respectively vertical and transversesections of one of the blocks. Figs. 1.3

to 26, inclusive, illustrate various forms of contact-pieces to becarried by the car. Fig. 27 is a front elevation of the preferred formof switch. Fig. 27" is a transverse section of the same through thecarbon blocks. Fig. 28 is a side elevation thereof in section. Fig. 29is an under side view of the switch. Fig. 30 isa plan view of the same,parts being removed. Figs. 31, 33, 34, and show certain details of theswitch apparatus. Figs. 36, 37, and 38 show, respectively, in verticaltransverse section, in vertical longitudinal section, and in sideelevation aboX in which the switch may be placed. Fig. 39 is aperspective view of the connector adapted to quickly permit the desiredconnections at the interior of the switch mechanism. Fig. 40

represents in perspective the block which' respectively on the contacts6 f cf e first blocl; B.

connected with d.

IO an electromagnet E E E having a coil of fine wire, Fig. 1. One end ofthe wire of each electromagnet is permanently connected to itscorresponding blocksay B-the other end being connected to a contact f,placed near 1.5 the next block-say B-for the purposehereinafterdescribed. Thecurrententersthecon-= ductor L, which issuccessively connected to the contacts (Z d (Z The return R T isconnected to another series of contacts 6 e e. The

20 blocks 13 B are respectively connected to 25 ment being such that thearmature can connect together electrically either the two contacts c and(Z or the two contacts 9 and f. Normally-that is to say, when no carpasses over the blocks the armatures A A A are f Let it be assumed thatthe contact E of the car is excited-that is to say, connected to theline-wire Land that the car advances till the contact F comes in contactwith the At this moment the shunt-circuit of the electromagnet E will beclosed, a current will enter it and cause the armature to be attracted.The latter, leaving the two contacts 6 will make contact with c and d.

40 The current thus directly enters the block and 5 dotted in Fig. 1,)the same thing will occur again. The shunt-circuit of the electromagnetE will be closed, the armature A will be attracted, the electricconnection between 6 and f will be interrupted, and a will be Theresults of this move ment of the armature will be as follows: First, thetwo cont-acts c f being no longer electrically connected, the circuitsof the electromagnet E will be open and the armature A will fall back onthe contacts 6 and f, and the the armature A results in the currententering the block 13 in the same manner as described with reference tothe first block 13,

and the current ceases to enter the blocl; B as soon as it enters theblock 13. \Vhen the car continues to move and the contact F comes intothe position T the same operation takes place again. The block B willcome into circuit, the current will becutollf from the blocl: l3, and,besides the phenomena already described, it must be pointed out that thearmature A in returning into its initial position will again connect theelectromagnet E to earth, and all the parts in combination with thefirst block B will be ready to work again under the same conditions whenanother car passes over.

The electric connections between the different parts may be altered, forinstance, as indicated in Fig. 8, without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention. In this latter modification, referring, say,tothe block B, the electroinagnet E is in shunt-circuit, being connectedon one side to the block and on the other permanently to the earth.\Vhen the contact F comes into the position F, the armatn re A isattracted and connects the two contacts 0 (1', one of which, cl, isconnected to the block ll and the other, 0', with the contact 6 of theblock In this latter block B the armature A is in its lower position,and consequently connects the two contacts c and f The result of this isthat the armature A, being attracted, establishes connection between theblock B and the source of electricity, as the contactf of the next blockis permanently connected to the source of electricity. When the contactmoves from the position F to E the same operations take place. Thearmature A will be attracted, the contacts c and (P will be connected,and the connection between the contacts c and f being interrupted,theblock 13, through which the current .passed up to that moment by meansof the two latter contacts, will have the current entering only throughthe contact-piece F, so that when the latter advances and leaves theblock B the electromagnet E, no longer having the current passingthrough it, will fall again, and the same operation will again takeplace as for the first block.

To simplify matters, everything hereinafter described will be supposedto operate on the first system described, although of course it willequally .well apply to the second system.

The switch of each contact is provided with an automatic cut-out, Fig.i. It i is the maximum strength of current required for working the car,it is advisable to have a switch which would prevent any current ofstrength greater thick-wire coil and connecting the block ll with thecontact 0. The latter coil is wound in opposite direction to thefine-wire coil. Let j be the strength of the current in the fine-wirecoils of the electromagnet E and their number N. It will then be easilyunderstood that if we make 12 the number of h windings on the branch F,n then when a current of the strength I passes through the thick-wirecoil there will be equilibrium between the two branches, the armaturewill no longer be attracted, and will fall and interrupt communicationbetween the contacts 0 and d; but as it might happen by reason of aslight error in the equilibrium Nj N I or from someother cause that thearmature does not fall another electromagnet K is placed in series withthe first one F and upon the opposite side of the armature, which magnetwill act and strongly attract the armature, so as to produce a verysudden rupture at the contacts 0 and d. Any other device may also beused, either with coils wound in the opposite or in the samedirectionsuch, for instance, as follows: On a single-bar electromagnetE, Fig. 5, are wound two wires 1 and 2. A is the armature for closingthe contacts. 3 is another auxiliary armature held at a distance fromthe core of the electromagnet by a suitable.devicesuch, for instance, asa spring 4. This latter auxiliary armature is such that normally,whether there be any current in the electromagnet or not, it is notattracted thereby, but connects the two contacts 5 and 6 inserted in thefine-wire coil 1 of the electromagnet E. If the current becomes toostrong in the thick-wire coil 2, the armature 3 will be attracted andwill break the fine-wire circuit of the electromagnet E. The armatureAisheld in its position by the magnetic action produced by the thick-wirecoil of the electromagnet E, which action ought to be quite suflicient;but the armature A will certainly fall downwhen the current ceases tocirculate in the thick-wire coil 2.

The two devices described are used as antomatic cut-outs; but they servealso for the following purpose: Supposing that the contact-piece of thecar reaches a block B Fig. 2, and that no contact takes place betweenthe two, this block will not come into circuit, but the car willcontinue to advance and will thus uncover the block B which is stillexcited. In order to avoid this drawback, the car is provided, besidesthe contact F, with another contact P (see full lines,

Fig. 2,) permanently connected to the returnwire through the wheels ofthe car, said sec ond contact having a resistance R, which is such thatthe strength of the current which llows in the circuit when this secondcontact comes in contact with the block shall be as nearly as possibleequal to intensityof the main current. At this moment the block willautomatically become inoperative. As will be seen from the preceding,the switches in the present system of electric traction are operated bya shunt-current.

hen the armature A has been attracted, the contacts 9 and f areinterrupted and a spark of an extra current is produced. In order toavoid the injurious eifects of the extra current, the following deviceis used: The spark appears between the points 6 and f. (See diagrammaticView of the switch, Fig. 6.) A condenser O of suitable capacity isemployed, and one side m of said condenser is joined to the terminal 6and the other side it to the terminal f. At the moment when the armatureA is attracted and the points 8 and f disconnected the condenser willbecome charged, thus preventing the extra current from having anydangerous effect- Vhcn the armature A falls again, the condenser will beshort-circuited.

The condenser may have any suitable shape, so that it may be properlyinsulated and protected. It may, for instance, be placed in an oil-bath.consideration for preserving the coils is to keep them well insulated.For this purpose the following arrangement (represented in Fig. '7) maybe adopted: The electromagnet E and the condenser O are both placed in avessel 9 filled with oil, the side m of the condenser being connectedwith the fine wire, which connects the end of the coil to the nextswitch, and the discharge end'of the condenser is connected to theterminal c, which in turn is connected to earth. When the cir- On theother hand, an important cuit of the electromagnet E is interrupted, the

condenser will absorb the extra current and the coil will be protected.Any similar arrangement may be used instead of that above described.

YVhen high-tension currents are used, it becomes difiic ult to make anelectromagnet with fine-wire coils, for the diiference of potentialbetween the single coils becomes very great. This diflicultyis overcomein the following manner: A resistance B, Fig. 8, without selfinductionis used, the two ends of the coil of the electromagnetE being placed inshunt-circuit with a portion 10 of said resistance. The resistances ofthe portions 10 and lland the resistance ofthe coil and of theelectromagnet E are so computed that the current passing through saidelectromagnet produces sufiicient attraction. One end of the resistanceR is connected to the block B and the other to the next followingswitch. The circuit thus formed will have the minimum self-inductionpossible. This arrangement may be combined with a condenser, which isthen arranged at the end of the resistance 11, the

other side of said condenser being connected to the earth, as shown inFig. 9. Moreover, if necessary, the electromagnet E, the resistance R,and the condenser C may be placed into an oil-bath. On the other hand,to avoid extra currents it is sufiicient to break the contacts veryslowly. To obtain this result, the following arrangements are used: Atthe points 6 and f terminate two wires, one of which is connected to afixed carbon block 13, Fig. 10, and the other to a lever 16, which isfulcrumed at 14 and which carries at one enda carbon point 15, pressingagainst the carbon block 13. The lever 16 is connected to the armature Aby a spring 17, so that when the armature is attracted the spring causesthe lever 16 to interrupt contact'between 15 and 13. From the oppositeend of

